Diplomatinė gynyba ir klausimai, susiję su valstybių teisių perėmimu

LTStraipsnyje nagrinėjamas diplomatinės gynybos institutas ir jo taikymas valstybių teisių perėmimo metu, atsižvelgiant į Tarptautinės teisės komisijos parengtą Diplomatinės gynybos straipsnių projektą. Nagrinėjami bendrieji diplomatinės gynybos klausimai, turintys reikšmės tiek paties instituto supratimui, tiek galimam jo taikymui po valstybių teisių perėmimo – diplomatinės gynybos sąvoka ir jos nevienareikšmis vartojimas, tęstinės pilietybės principas, iš dalies – vidaus teisinių priemonių išnaudojimo reikalavimas, atskiriami tarptautiniai įsipareigojimai, kurių atžvilgiu gali būti taikomos diplomatinės gynybos priemonės valstybių teisių perėmimo atveju, o kuriais atvejais valstybės veiksmai, kuriais užtikrinama piliečio ar kito asmens teisių gynyba, nelaikytini diplomatine gynyba. Minėtieji klausimai, susiję apskritai su diplomatine gynyba, analizuojami valstybių teisių perėmimo kontekste. Aptariami diskusiniai klausimai, neaptarti Straipsnių projekte, galintys turėti įtakos diplomatinės gynybos priemonių taikymui valstybių teisių perėmimo kontekste, – pavyzdžiui, kas nutinka su galimybe imtis diplomatinės gynybos priemonių, jei tarptautinių įsipareigojimų, kuriais nustatomos atitinkamos teisės asmenims, neperima valstybė teisių perėmėja. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Diplomatinė apsauga; Diplomatinė gynyba; Tarptautinė atsakomybė; Valstybių atsakomybė; Valstybių teisių perėmimas; Valstybė pirmtakė; Valstybė teisių perėmėja; Valstybė-teisių perėmėja; Valstybės teisių perėmimas; Diplomatic protection; International responsibility; Predecessor state; Predesessor state; Succession of states; Successor state.

ENSuccession of states regains its importance in current geopolitical situation as now we are witnessing a possible new wave of state succession: South Sudan has been accepted to the United Nations, Kosovo’s independence has been recognized by many countries, Palestine has gained new status in the United Nations, etc. This would lead to the necessity to resolve questions related to succession of states, which might, among other subjects, include issues of diplomatic protection which was subject to international legislation – International Law Commission has prepared the Draft Articles on Diplomatic Protection. However, General Assembly is still not ready to adopt this document as a convention, therefore the term to consider possible ways of handling the issues on diplomatic protection within the UN was extended till 2013. Draft articles give the definition of diplomatic protection, indicating the main features of this institute. However, sometimes the difference among the institutes being called the same name with diplomatic protection might cause misunderstandings when analyzing the issue both in general and in the context of succession of states. One of the main prerequisites for diplomatic protection recognized in the jurisprudence of International Court of Justice is the Mavrommatis rule, which indicates that when protecting the citizen’s rights, state in reality is asserting its own right. This rule has been cited in other cases, however, especially now, when individuals already have quite a number of measures to protect their individual rights independently from the actions of state, it has been acknowledged that the rule is fictitious. This recognition, reflected in the Draft Articles and indicated in the commentary of it, is most welcomed as it helps to resolve questions related to the succession of states.There is a need to understand that there is a difference between international obligations under which state is entitled to diplomatic protection and those under which it really asserts its own rights, despite the fact that the latter might also be related to the rights of individuals. This difference is also important in the context of the succession of states, as the consequences arising out of the breach of these obligations in the context of state succession might differ. The last but not least issue addressed in the article is the question of the succession to treaties, which indicate individual rights, but does not form a customary international law. The question is whether the successor state is entitled to diplomatic protection on behalf of its succeeded citizen in a case of a breach of international treaty which was not subject to succession by the successor state. Taking everything into account, there are issues which are not addressed in the Draft Articles on Diplomatic Protection. Herewith there are issues of diplomatic protection which should be addressed in a case of state succession. Nonetheless, it should be reminded that diplomatic protection is always subject to the decision of the state itself, it is just important that newly created states understand and know the possibility to invoke international responsibility of the third state using the means of diplomatic protection, even if the injury was made to its national before the moment of state succession. [From the publication]